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Are You Going to Be Mad If Cato & Rice Are in the Starting Line-Up on Opening Night?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Manny Ramirez, Aug 10, 2002.

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  1. Manny Ramirez

    Manny Ramirez The Music Man

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    I have a bad feeling that there are going to be lots of unhappy people if Kelvin and Glen are starting on opening night over Ming and Nachbar.

    But remember, Yao won't get to practice with the Rockets much before the season starts and Nachbar is still out with the hernia (or at least I think he still is).

    I believe that Rudy requires players to prove to him that they belong in the starting line-up. Look how long it took him to "promote" Mobley to the starting line-up.

    However, if Nachbar and/or Yao show something early, I think that Rudy should not wait as long as he did with Cuttino and go ahead and start the player who is better. If he doesn't, get ready for many, many threads here on why he must go because he is not starting Boki or Yao.
     
    #1 Manny Ramirez, Aug 10, 2002
  2. RC Cola

    RC Cola Member

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    Nope. I think since both Cato and Rice have loads more NBA exp. than the other two, they should start. That said, if Boki and Yao are miles ahead of both, I would expect them to start eventually. But they would have to be a LOT better. (if they were the same, Rice/Cato should start due to exp., imo.)
     
    #2 RC Cola, Aug 10, 2002
  3. Sane

    Sane Member

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    That's right. Cato, KT and Rice will start on the first day mostly because of experience. We can't have 2 rookies starting in the frontcourt if we're vying for the playoffs. Every game counts. In fact, I don't expect Ming or Nachbar in the line-up till at least the All Star break. Griffin will get the spot 29 games into the season though.
     
    #3 Sane, Aug 10, 2002
  4. dave feitl

    dave feitl Member

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    I wish we could start
    FRANCIS
    CAT
    RICE
    GRIFFIN
    MING

    JUST TO GET IT GOING..
    Cato and MoT should know right away they will be the bench guys as time goes by so screw it let them come off the bench from the start.
     
    #4 dave feitl, Aug 10, 2002
  5. off_welfare

    off_welfare Member

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    Who cares whose in the line-up as long as I get to see Ming in action and Stevie and Cat are playing?!?!
     
    #5 off_welfare, Aug 10, 2002
  6. Monkey7392

    Monkey7392 Member

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    I have a bad feeling Kenny Thomas is gonna start over Griff, knowing Rudy this will be the starting line up te first game.

    Rudy T's lineup

    Francis
    Mobley
    Rice
    Thomas
    Cato

    My Starting Lineup

    Francis
    Mobley
    Rice
    Griffin
    Cato

    My mid season starting lineup

    Francis
    Mobley
    Boki
    Griff
    Ming
     
    #6 Monkey7392, Aug 10, 2002
  7. Ubiquitin

    Ubiquitin Member
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    Honestly, I could care less because I am a 'Kets fan no matter what.
     
    #7 Ubiquitin, Aug 10, 2002
  8. ZRB

    ZRB Member

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    I expect Rice to start. What I would like to see is Yao thrown into the fire right away. He is a number-one pick, afterall.
     
    #8 ZRB, Aug 10, 2002
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2002
  9. ROXRAN

    ROXRAN Member

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    no
     
    #9 ROXRAN, Aug 10, 2002
  10. Sane

    Sane Member

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    Why would we throw Ming in?

    We HAVE Cato, who's very capable of starting. We're in no rush for Ming to be incredible. We're trying to make the playoffs. In the Western Conference, those first 10 games in which he screws up big time can be the difference between us making the playoffs or not.


    If Cato and Mo T are working as hard as everyone says, and Glen Rice is in good shape like we heard, then I have no problem with Ming, Griffin, Boki, and Mooch forming one of the best benches in the league.
     
    #10 Sane, Aug 10, 2002
  11. leebigez

    leebigez Member

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    What did Francis prove before he was given the starting job? What about Taylor. Its really a bunch of bull really. Cato plays hard when he comes off the bench and not worry about foul trouble . Last yr he was "pacing" himself the whole game all the time. I would rather see Ming start and take his lumps early to get them out of the way.
     
    #11 leebigez, Aug 10, 2002
  12. Panda

    Panda Member

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    I'm ok with Cato starting for 5 games, just to let Ming be accustomed to the NBA atmosphere. Make Ming the starter after that. Rudy, feel free to yank Cato's butt to the bench at then.
     
    #12 Panda, Aug 10, 2002
  13. Sane

    Sane Member

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    We didn't really have a choice when we got Francis. Plus, are you comparing Francis' readiness to play in the NBA to Ming's? Impossible. Ming is nowhere near that level.


    He can take his lumps in garbage minutes, because with or without Ming, we enter the playoffs this year.
     
    #13 Sane, Aug 10, 2002
  14. Sane

    Sane Member

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    *note: Ming will be absolutely exhausted, so he'll be hitting a bigger "rookie wall" than normanl rookies.


    It takes more than 5 games to get accustomed to the NBA game.
     
    #14 Sane, Aug 10, 2002
  15. RC Cola

    RC Cola Member

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    I pretty much agree with Sane here. Rudy could also start Cato, but give Ming more minutes. But I wouldn't advise that until we know Ming could play.(ex:midseason,or schooling Cato in practice.:D )
     
    #15 RC Cola, Aug 10, 2002
  16. Refman

    Refman Member

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    I expect Rice to be in the starting lineup but to trip over his shoelace lining up for tipoff and be out for the season. :)
     
    #16 Refman, Aug 11, 2002
  17. Htownhero

    Htownhero Member

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    No, they are our best shot at winning that early in the season. Let Boki and Ming take those starting jobs, don't just give them away.
     
    #17 Htownhero, Aug 11, 2002
  18. Yetti

    Yetti Member

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    I won't try to know the Coaches' mind! He will be the judge of the talent of his charges. I can predict that by the Season Opening Game that he will be fully aware of the teams needs and which player can, at that time, perform to his requiremts,for each position.
    I would like Cato to play his role as back up Center and Nachbar to play his role as Starting Small Forward.This of course depends not on my wishes but Rudy T.
     
    #18 Yetti, Aug 11, 2002
  19. Manny Ramirez

    Manny Ramirez The Music Man

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    Don't get me wrong; I, too, think it is the right thing to start Cato and Rice over Yao and Boki. The reason why I asked this question is that I felt that we, as fans, in our anticipation of the great things that Yao and Boki can do & also due to the underwhelming performances of Cato and Rice would be wanting something that is unrealistic.

    Two things about my last statement:

    1) The people who responded have shown me that they have realistic expectations about this which is a good thing.

    2) Isn't that sentence the worst run-on sentence you have ever seen?:)
     
    #19 Manny Ramirez, Aug 11, 2002
  20. Texan69128

    Texan69128 Member

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    Who gives? As long as the Rockets win right?
     
    #20 Texan69128, Aug 11, 2002
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